Apparatus for forming loops of elastic tape



Aug. 29, 1967 Filed Feb. 19, 1964 l. EDELMAN 3,338,771

APPARATUS FOR FORMING LOOPS OF ELASTIC TAPE 5 Sheets-Sheet l x 'INVENTOR.

( Q s IRVING EDELMAN Q B Q ATTORNEY Aug. 29,- 1967 EDELMAN APPARATUS FOR FORMING LOOPS OF ELASTIC TAPE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 19, 1964 INVENTOR.

IRVING EDELMAN ATTORNEY 3 Sheets-s :5

APPARATUS FOR FORMING LOOPS OF ELASTI PE Aug. 29, 1967 Filed Feb. l9, 1964 VENT L IRVING EDELMAN I ATTORNEY United States Fatent O 3,338,771 APPARATUS FOR FORMING LOOPS OF ELASTIC TAPE Irving Edelman, Franklin Square, N.Y., assignor to Silbro Products Corp., Long Island City, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 19, 1964, Ser. No. 345,877

16 Claims. (Cl. 156-361) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for forming loops of elastic tape to which adhesive is applied comprises a guide along which the tape is intermittently advanced so as to project the leading tape end through a cutting device and over a turret which is rotatably indexed and has pockets opening at its periphery, a folding blade movable from above into the pocket then disposed at the top of the turret so as to fold a length of tape severed from the leading tape end by the cutting device, a pressing device acting on the folded length of tape in the pocket then disposed at a side of the turret so as to adhere together the branches of the folded tape, and an ejecting device acting on the folded and adhered tape in the pocket then disposed at the bottom of the turret to cause discharge of such folded tape from the turret. The elastic tape is propelled to the guide by a feeding arrangement which avoids the stretching thereof both during the application of adhesive to the tape and during its intermittent advancement through the cutting device.

This invention relates generally to an apparatus for forming loops, particularly of elastic webbing or tape, for example, of the type that are normally stitched or secured to the bottom edge or leg openings of girdles, panty-girdles, corsets and other similar undergarments for use in connecting detachable garter grips to the undergarment.

Heretofore, loops of the described character have been produced by cutting suitable lengths from a continuous elastic tape or webbing, and thereafter, in a separate operation, folding each cut length and stitching together the resulting superposed legs or branches of elastic tape so as to retain the latter in the form of a loop which is thereafter further sewed to the girdle, corset or the other undergarment. It is apparent that the foregoing procedure is time-consuming, involves considerable labor and, therefore, is costly in relation to the simplicity of the resulting product.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus which automatically produces loops of elastic webbing or tape starting from a continuous tape or webbing in roll form, with the legs or branches of each loop being secured together, at least temporarily, so as to retain the configuration of the loop until the latter is stitched or otherwise secured to the girdle, corset or other undergarment.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, an apparatus for forming loops of the described character comprises means for feeding elastic tape or webbing from a supply roll thereof past a nozzle by which a spray of an adhesive is projected against a surface of the elastic tape, such adhesive being of a type effective to adhere to itself, cutting means operative intermittently to sever a length or section at the leading end of the tape from the remainder of the latter following the application of adhesive thereto, folding means operative on each severed section of the tape to fold the latter into the form of a loop with the branches thereof arranged so that the surfaces bearing the previously applied adhesive confront 3,338,771 Patented Aug. 29, 1967 ICC each other, means for pressing together the branches of the folded loop of tape so that the confronting adhesive bearing surfaces of the branches will adhere together, and discharging means for ejecting the successively formed loops from the apparatus.

Other objects of this invention are to provide an apparatus of the described character capable of operating reliably to produce elastic loops of uniform quality and configuration with a minimum of supervision, thereby to substantially reduce the cost of production of the elastic loops.

A further object is to provide an apparatus capable of producing loops of adjustably predetermined size.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, which is partly broken away and diagrammatic, of an apparatus embodying this invention for forming loops of elastic tape or webbing;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the apparatus partly broken away and in section, and shown on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a portion of the apparatus, but as viewed from the side opposite to that shown on FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top elevational view of the portion of the apparatus shown on FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevational view, partly broken away and in section, of an indexing wheel forming a part of the apparatus embodying this invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a detail sectional view taken along the line 7-7 on FIG. 3; and

FIG. 8 is a detail perspective view showing one of the loops of elastic tape or webbing produced by the apparatus embodying this invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIG. 1 thereof, it will be seen that an apparatus for forming loops of elastic tape or webbing in accordance with this invention is there generally identified by the reference numeral 10 and includes a section 11 for feeding the continuous elastic tape or webbing and for coating the latter with an adhesive or cement capable of adhering to itself, and a section 12 which cuts the adhesively coated tape or webbing into separated lengths and forms the separated length of tape or webbing into the desired loops.

The section 11 includes an erect frame 13 having a bracket or plate 14 projecting therefrom and carrying a table 15 at one side provided with a central spindle 16 on which a supply roll R of elastic tape or webbing is free to rotate. The elastic tape of webbing W is unwound tangentially from the supply roll R and directed by a guide roller 17 so as to pass upwardly through the nip between a feed roller 18 mounted on a horizontal shaft 19 which is journalled in bracket 14 and a pressure roller 20 which is freely rotatable on an axle 21 projecting from bracket 14. The shaft 19 of feed roller 18 carries a pulley 22 in back of the bracket 14 which is driven by a belt 23 running in one of the grooves of a double-grooved pulley 24 mounted on a shaft 25 journalled in the frame 13. The other groove of pulley 24 is engaged by a belt 26 running around a drive pulley 27 secured on the output shaft 28 of a speed reducer 29. The speed reducer is driven by an electric motor 30 and mounted with the latter on a bracket 31 carried by the frame 32 of the tape cutting and loop forming section 12.

The elastic tape or webbing W drawn off the roll R by the cooperative action of the rollers 18 and 20 is directed forwardly over a horizontal guide member 33 which projects laterally from bracket 14 and underlies a spray nozzle 34. The nozzle 34 receives liquid adhasive by way of a tube 35 dipping into a reservoir 36 in which a substantially constant level of the adhesive is maintained by barometric or gravity feed through a tube 37 from an overhead tank 38 mounted on the frame 13. Compressed air is further supplied to the nozzle 34 through a tube or hose 39 from a suitable source (not shown) so that the nozzle 34 discharges a spray of the adhesive downwardly onto the webbing or tape W passing therebelow on the guide member 33. The adhesive sprayed by the nozzle 34 may be of any suitable type capable of adhering to itself, and preferably is a dispersion in water of natural or synthetic rubber or latex with suitable fillers and accelerators for promoting the curing or vulcanizing thereof.

After the tape or webbing W has been sprayed with the adhesive, it passes downwardly over a freely rotatable guide roller 40 mounted on frame 13 in front of guide members 33, and then successively around freely rotatable guide rollers 41, 42 and 43 which are respectively mounted at the bottom, top and bottom of frame 13. Thus, the tape or webbing follows a long or tortuous path between guide roller 40 and a drive roller 44 which is mounted on shaft 25. It is intended that the adhesive sprayed on the tape or webbing W will substantially dry during movement of the latter along such tortuous or elongated path leading to the drive roller 44, and such drying of the adhesive can be promoted by the application of heat, for example, from an infra-red lamp 45 suitably mounted on frame 13.

Although the feed roller 44 on shaft 25 is continuously rotated, the tape or webbing W is fed by roller 44 only when it is pressed against the surface of the latter by a freely rotatable pressure roller 45 mounted on a lever 46 which is pivotally supported, as at 47. The free or lower end of lever 46 is pivotally connected to the piston rod of a cylinder 48 to which compressed air is supplied through a tube 49 upon actuation of an air valve illustrated schematically at 50 and which is interposed between tube 49 and a tube 51 extending to a suitable source (not shown) of compressed air.

In order to effect actuation of the air valve 50 in response to the demand for the tape or webbing W, the latter passes from feed roller 44 around a tension sensing roller 52 which is rotatably supported on a lever 53 pivoted, as at 54, and having an arm 55 for actuating the valve 50 when the onset of any substantial tension in the tape or webbing W effects movement of the sensing roller 52 towards the left, as viewed on FIG. 1. Such actuation of the valve 50 causes air to be supplied to the cylinder 48 for effecting movement of the pressure roller 45 against feed roller 44 whereby the tape or webbing is positively fed by the roller 44 until a substantial absence of tension in the webbing in advance of the roller 52 permits the latter to return gravitationally to a position substantially below the pivot 54. Upon return of roller 52 to its normal position vertically below the pivot 54, the supplying of compressed air to cylinder 48 is interrupted, thereby permitting the pressure roller 45 to return gravitationally to its illustrated position spaced from feed roller 44 for interrupting feeding of the web.

As will be hereinafter described in detail, the tape or webbing is intermittently advanced in the cutting and loop forming section 12 of the apparatus, thereby to intermittently draw tape or webbing from the section 11. Thus, the cooperating rollers 44 and 45 effect the intermittent movement of the elastic tape or Webbing in the path defined by guide rollers 40-43 and by guide member 33 below the spray nozzle 34. By reason of such intermittent movement of the tape or webbing below the spray nozzle, the concentration of adhesive is relatively increased at those portions of the tape or webbing underlying the 4 nozzle 34 during the periods when the tape or webbing is relatively at rest. Since the rollers 18 and 20 are disposed below guide member 33, the continuous rotation of such rollers will merely form a loop or looseness in the tape between rollers 18 and 2t} and guide member 33 during each period when pressure roller 45 is spaced from feed roller 44 to interrupt the drawing of the tape by the latter. Thus, it is ensured that each drawing or feeding action of the rollers 44 and 45 will not have to overcome an excessive drag, thereby avoiding undesirable longitudinal stretching of the elastic tape or webbing at the time when the adhesive is sprayed thereon. If such excessive stretching is permitted, the spray adhesive tends to enter the open pores or interstices of the elastic tape or webbing rather than remaining on the surface as is desired for ensuring adherence of the adhesive to itself when portions or branches of the tape are pressed against each other.

After passing under the tension sensing roller 52, the tape or webbing W runs horizontally along a .guide channel 56 mounted on top of a support plate 57 (FIGS. 1, 4 and 7). The support plate 57 has longitudinally elongated slots 58 receiving bolts 59 by which support plate 57 is secured to a top plate 60 of frame 32 of section 12. Thus, support plate 57 can be adjusted longitudinally relative to frame 32. Mounted on plate 57 adjacent the end of the latter remote from section 11 is an inverted U-shaped block 61 defining an opening or tunnel through which the guide 56 extends to terminate at a hardened shearing block or anvil 62 also secured on plate 57. Thus, as the tape or webbing is advanced along the guide 56, its leading end portion is projected beyond the front edge surface of the block or anvil 62.

For the purpose of intermittently advancing the tape or webbing along the guide 56, the section 12 has a slider 63 reciprocable along the guide 56 and pivotally carrying a pusher 64 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4). Pusher 64 has raked teeth which extend into the guide 56 to propel the tape or webbing along the latter during movement of the pusher towards the right, as viewed on FIG. 3, that is, in the direction toward the shearing block or anvil 62, and to merely slide over the tape during the return movement of the slider 63. In order to effect reciprocation of the slider 63 by which the tape or webbing is intermittently fed, the slider is connected, for example, by a spring 65, to a link 66 pivoted, as at 67, at an adjusted eccentric position on a crank wheel 68 (FIG. 3). The crank wheel 68 v is secured on one end of a laterally extending shaft 69 which is journalled in the mounting block 61. The opposite end of shaft 69 carries a sprocket 70 engaged by a chain 71 which also runs around a sprocket 72 secured on a drive shaft 73 journalled in suitable bearings carried by frame 32 (FIG. 1). An idler sprocket 74 also engages chain 71 and is adjustably carried by frame 32 so as to maintain the requisite tension in chain 71 when plate 57 is longitudinally adjusted relative to frame 32 for the purpose hereinafter indicated. The drive shaft 73 is also driven through a chain and sprocket transmission 74 from the output shaft 28 of the speed reducer 27. Thus, rotation of shaft 69, and hence reciprocation of pusher 64 for effecting intermittent movement of the webbing along guide 56 are synchronized with the rotation of feed rollers 44 and 18 of section 11.

Side frame members 75 project upwardly from the opposite sides of block 61 and, at their upper ends, rotatably support a cam shaft 76. Rotation of cam shaft 76 is effected by means of a sprocket 77 secured thereon, a chain 78 running around sprocket 77 and around a sprocket 79 secured on shaft 69, and an idler or tensioning sprocket 80 which engages chain 78 to maintain the requisite tension therein, as shown on FIG. 1. A cam member 81 is secured on cam shaft 76 between the side frame members 75. As particularly shown on FIGS. 2 and 3, cam member 81 has an axially opening cam track 82 formed in one side surface thereof and being engaged by a cam follower roller 83 (FIG. 2) mounted at the upper end of a plunger 84. The plunger 84 is vertically movable in guides 85 secured at the front of the block 61 and has a shearing blade 86 at its lower end which is intended to cooperate with the shearing anvil 62, upon downward stroking of plunger 84, to cut or sever the leading end portion of the tape or webbing from the remainder of the latter. The shape of cam track 82 and the angular positioning of cam member 81 on shaft 76 are selected in relation to the angular positioning the crank wheel 68 on shaft 69 so that blade 86 is raised during forward movement of the tape or webbing by pusher 64, whereupon blade 86 is driven downwardly to cut off the leading end section or length of the tape or webbing extending beyond the front edge surface of anvil 62.

In order to ensure that the tape or webbing will not be pulled back along track 56 during the return movement of pusher 64, the section 12 of the illustrated apparatus further preferably has a holding bar 87 (FIGS. 3 and 7) mounted for vertical movement on the back of block 61, for example, in guides 88. The upper end of bar 87 is connected, by a link 89, with a crank arm 90 secured on a jack shaft 91 which is turnable in bearings 92 on side frame members 75. A crank arm 93 is also secured on jack shaft 91 and carries a cam follower roller 94 engageable with the periphery of cam member 81. A tension spring 95 is connected between an arm 96 extending radially from an end of jack shaft 91 and a pin 97 on the adjacent frame member 75 to urge shaft 91 to turn in the direction maintaining engagement of cam follower roller 94 with the periphery of cam member 81. The periphery of cam member 81 is shaped so that, during the downward cutting movement of knife blade 86 and the return or backward movement of pusher 64, bar 87 is moved downwardly to engage, at its lower end, with the tape or webbing in guide 56 thereby to prevent shifting of the tape or webbing within the guide. However, during the forward or tape feeding movement of pusher 64, bar 87 is lifted so as to disengage the tape or webbing.

In accordance with this invention, each length of tape cut or severed from the leading end of the advanced tape or webbing W is folded approximately about its mid-point to form two superposed legs or branches A and A having the previously applied adhesive at the confronting surfaces thereof, and such branches or legs are pressed together, and thereby made to adhere to each other, for maintaining the loop formation L, as shown on FIG. 8. In the illustrated apparatus 10, the folding of each cut section of the elastic tape or webbing and the pressing together of the branches of the folded length of tape or Webbing are performed in a turret or index wheel generally identified by the reference numeral 100. The turret 100 includes a disk or circular body 101 having a pair of diametrically extending slots 102 intersecting at right angles in its front face, and a front disk or cover 103 secured to the disk or body 101 and having four equally spaced apart openings or windows 104 (FIGS. 2 and 5) aligned with the end portions of the two intersecting grooves or slots 102. A shaft 105 extends from the back end of disk 101 and is rotatably journalled in a bearing 106 carried by the top plate 60 of frame 32 so that turret 100 is rotatable in a vertical, laterally extending plane in front of the anvil or shearing block 62, as is apparent on FIG. 6. The shaft 105 is vertically positioned in relation to the anvil or shearing block 62 so that the horizontal plane of the top surface of the latter, that is the level of path of movement of the elastic tape or webbing, is immediately above the top of the turret 100. As each leading end length of the tape or webbing is advanced beyond the front end surface of block 62, such leading end length, indicated broken lines at L on FIG. 6, is projected forwardly over the top of turret 100.

At the time of the cutting of each leading end length L from the remainder of the tape or webbing by downward movement of the shearing blade 86, the turret 100 is rotationally positioned with its two intersecting slots or grooves 102 extending vertically and horizontally, respectively, as shown on FIGS. 5 and 6. Thus, during each operating cycle, the upper end portion of the slot 102 then extending vertically forms a pocket which opens upwardly under the middle portion of the section L cut from the tape or webbing.

A pusher or folding blade 107 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) is mounted for vertical reciprocation into and out of the upper end portion of the slot or groove 102 of turret disposed in the vertical position during each operating cycle of the apparatus. As shown, the blade 107 may depend from an arm 108 which extends laterally from the upper end portion of a vertical rod 109 guided in suitable bearings 110 for vertical reciprocation at one side of the front end of frames 32. In order to effect the necessary vertical reciprocation of blade 107, rod 109 has a pin 111 projecting laterally therefrom and engaging in the slotted or bifurcated end of a lever 112 which is pivoted, as at 113, for swinging in a vertical plane adjacent one side of frame 32. Lever 112 is urged downwardly by a spring 114 (FIG. 1) and carries a cam follower roller 115 which engages, from above, with the periphery of a cam 116 secured on the rotated shaft 73.

Cam 116 is shaped so that the pusher blade 107 is raised, as shown on FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, during the advancement of the leading end section or length of the tape or webbing beyond the anvil 62 and over the turret 100. When the forwarding or advancement of the tape or webbing is halted, cam 116 causes blade 107 to move downwardly until its lower end merely engages the tape or webbing at the upper end opening of the vertically disposed slot 102 of the turret, thereby to hold the projecting leading end portion of the tape or webbing when it is cut from the remainder of the tape or webbing by the downward stroke of the knife 86. After the leading end portion L of the tape or webbing has been cut from the remainder thereof, cam 116 causes blade 107 to complete its downward stroke into the upper end portion of the vertically directed slot 102, as on FIGS. 5 and 6, thus causing folding of the cut length of tape about the blade 107 within the upper portion of the slot 102. After the cut length of tape has been folded, cam 116 causes upward or return movement of blade 107 for withdrawing the latter from the turret 100.

After blade 107 has been returned or moved vertically upward out of engagement with the turret 100, the latter is turned or indexed through an angle of 90 in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed on FIGS. 2 and 5. As shown particularly on FIGS. 2 and 3, the indexing mechanism for the turret 100 includes a cam 117 secured on rotated shaft 73 and engaged by a cam follower roller 118 carried by a lever 119 which is pivoted, as at 120, on the adjacent side of frame 32. A spring 121 is connected to lever 119 to urge cam follower roller 118 into engagementwith cam 117, and a connecting rod 122 extends upwardly from the front end of lever 119 to a rockable pawl lever 123 which is pivoted, as at 124 (FIG. 2) for rocking in a laterally extending vertical plane. Lever 123 carries a pawl 125 which is spring urged into engagement with the peripheral teeth of a ratchet wheel 126 turnable on an axle 127. A spur gear 128 rotates with ratchet Wheel 126 on axle 127 and meshes with a pinion 129 located in back of turret 100 and secured to the latter. Thus, during each upward rocking movement of pawl lever 123, ratchet wheel 126 and gear 128 are turned in the clockwise direction, as viewed on FIG. 2, while pinion 129 and turret 100 are turned in the counterclockwise direction, as desired. By reason of the ratio of the gear 128 to pinion 129, a relatively small angular displacement of gear 128 is sufiicient to cause turning of the turret 100 through the necessary 90". Thus, the cut length of elastic tape or webbing folded in the upper end portion of the vertically disposed slot 102 of the turret 100, that is, at the folding station indicated at F on FIG. 5, is carried to a pressing station, indicated at P, where pressure is to be exerted through the related opening or window 104 of the turret for causing the adhesively coated branches of the folded tape to adhere to each other.

As shown on FIG. 4, the device for exerting such pressure preferably includes a pressing arm or lever 130 pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, as at 131, on a bracket 132 extending forwardly from the side portion of frame 32 so as to be rockable i a horizontal plane. The inner end of lever 130 is formed with a rearward extension or pad 133 dimensioned to extend through the window or opening 104 of the turret disposed at the pressing station P when lever 130 is rocked to the position shown in broken lines on FIG. 4 by the supplying of compressed air to the back end of a cylinder 134 having its piston rod connected to the outer end of lever 130. As shown, a spring 135 may be provided in cylinder 134 to act rearwardly against the piston 136 which is reciprocable in the latter. Thus, spring 135 tends to return lever 130 to the position shown in full lines, thereby to avoid interference of the pad 133 with the indexing movement of turret 100.

In order to control the operation of the pressing arm or lever 130, a cam 137 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is secured on rotated shaft 73 and is engaged, at its periphery, by a cam follower roller 138 mounted at one end of an actuating lever 139 which is pivotally supported, intermediate its ends, as at 140 (FIG. 3). A tension spring 141 is connected to the actuating lever 139 to urge the latter in the direction engaging its roller 138 with cam 137. A normally closed air control valve 142 is interposed in a conduit 143 extending from a suitable source (not shown) of compressed air to the back end of cylinder 134. The end of actuating lever 139 remote from roller 138 is operative to depress an actuating plunger 144 of valve 142 to open the latter upon rocking of the actuating lever 139 in the counter-clockwise direction, as viewed on FIG. 3, in response to engagement of a radially raised portion of cam 137 with the cam follower roller 138. Cam 137 is angularly positioned in relation to cam 117 which effects the indexing movement of turret 100 so that the presser arm or lever 130 is operated to engage the loop of elastic tape or webbing positioned at the pressing station P only when turret 100 is at rest.

Referring again to FIGS. and 6, it will be seen that, within the two diametrically extending, intersecting slots 102 of turret 100, there are disposed sliders 145a and 145b, respectively, which overlap or extend across each other at the intersection of the two slots. The sliders 145a and 14512 have flanges 146 extending along their opposite end edges. The flanges 146 of slider 145a are directed forwardly, while the flanges 146 of slider 14511 are directed rearwardly. Thus, the end flanges 146 of each slider are engageable with the side edges of the other slider thereby to limit the sliding movements of the sliders 145a and 1451; in the related slots 102.

It will be apparent from FIGS. 5 and 6 that, when a cut length of tape or webbing is folded into the upper end portion of the vertically disposed slot 102 located at the folding station F by downward movement of the blade 107 into the slot, the slider disposed in that slot, for example, the slider 1451) on FIG. 5, is driven downwardly until its upper flange 146 engages the slider 145a. Such downward movement of the slider 1451) is effective to downwardly eject or discharge the loop of elastic tape or webbing disposed in the lower portion of the vertical slot, that is, disposed at the discharge station D (FIG. 5). Thus, after the branches of the folded loop have been made to adhere to each other by the pressure exerted through the pressure arm 130 at the pressing station P, the next indexing movement of turret 100 brings the completed loop to the discharge station D and, during the next operating cycle of the apparatus, the folding of a cut length of the tape or webbing into the upper portion of the vertical slot 102 is accompanied by the downward ejecting of the completed loop from the lower portion of that slot. As shown on FIG. 3, a chute 147 may extend downwardly from below the turret for guiding the discharged or ejected loops into a suitable receptacle (not shown).

Referring again to FIG. 5, it will be seen that the turret 100 has a cavity 148 opening laterally into each end portion of each of the slots 102 and containing a slidable aligning member 149 which is urged to project into the related slot 102 by a compression spring 150. Thus, when a cut length of elastic tape or webbing is folded into the upper end portion of the slot 102 at the folding station F, the aligning member 149 acts laterally against the adjacent longitudinal edges of the branches of the folded length of tape to urge the latter against the opposite side wall surface of the slot 102 and thereby ensure accurate alignment of the two branches of the folded tape. Such accurate alignment of the branches of the folded tape is maintained at the pressing station P by the aligning member 149, thereby to ensure uniformity of the produced loops having the branches adhered to each other by the action of the pressing arm 130. Further, the member 149 acting against the side edges of the folded length of tape or webbing holds the latter in the pocket or upper end portion of the vertical slot 102 when the blade 107 is withdrawn upwardly therefrom. As is apparent on FIG. 5, the aligning members 149 and sliders a and 1451) have beveled corners so that, when a slider is propelled downwardly into the lower end portion of the vertically disposed slot 102, as described above, the beveled corners of the slider and aligning member 149 associated with the lower end portion of the vertical slot cam relative to each other and thereby push back the aligning member to avoid interference with the downward movement of the slider.

As previously mentioned, the throw or eccentricity of the crank wheel 68 can be adjusted to vary the stroke of the pusher 64 and thereby vary the distance by which the leading end portion of the tape or webbing is projected beyond the front end surface of the shearing anvil 62. Thus, the length of the section cut from the tape or webbing during each operating cycle can be conveniently adjusted. Further, as previously mentioned the plate 57 which supports the shearing anvil 62 may be longitudinally adjusted relative to the frame 32 on which the turret 100 is mounted, thereby to vary the distance from the front edge surface of the shearing anvil 62 to the .plane of rotation of turret 100. These two mentioned adjustments make it possible to vary the length of each loop L produced by the apparatus 10, and further to vary the relationship of the lengths of the two branches A and A (FIG. 8) of the loop. Thus, if plate 57 is adjusted relative to frame 32 so that the distance from the front edge surface of the shearing anvil 62 to the plane of rotation of turret 100 is equal to one-half the length of the section cut from the tape or webbing during each operating cycle of the apparatus, then both branches of the formed loop will be of equal length. However, if the distance from the front edge surface of anvil 62 to the plane of rotation of turret 100 is less than, or more than one-half the cut length of the tape or webbing, then the branches A and A of the formed loop will be of unequal length, as shown on FIG. 8.

It is further to be noted that, by reason of the tension sensing roller 52 of the previously described mechanism for feeding the tape or webbing to the section 12 of the apparatus, excessive tensioning of the elastic tape or Webbing is avoided during the intermittent advancement thereof by the reciprocated pusher 64. Thus, stretching of the tape or webbing is prevented so as to ensure that the lengths cut therefrom are uniform. It is also to be noted that the location of the spray nozzle 34 of the section 11 of the apparatus is selected so that the portions of the elastic tape or webbing located thereunder when the tape or webbing is at rest correspond to the portions of each cut length subjected to the action of the pressing arm 130 at the presing station P of the turret 100. Thus, adequate adherence of the branches of each loop is achieved without requiring the spraying of excess amounts of the ad hesive on the tape or webbing.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the apparatus embodying this invention has been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for forming loops of elastic tape comprising means for supporting a supply of elastic tape, feeding means for withdrawing tape from said supply and for moving the tape intermittently in a path, cutting means located adjacent a terminal portion of said path and operative to cut the tape moved therepast into lengths, adhesive applying means including a nozzle located adjacent said path for emitting a spray of adhesive against the tape, the location of said nozzle being in advance of said cutting means by a distance along said path which is a whole multiple of said lengths into which the tape is cut so that the area of the tape receiving adhesive from said nozzle during each period when the tape is at rest intermediate its intermittent movements cor-responds to end portions of lengths into which the tape is thereafter cut, pocket defining means positioned to open upwardly under each length cut from the tape, a folding blade moved downwardly into said pocket from above the cut length so as to fold the latter substantially about its middle and thereby form two branches having the applied adhesive at the confronting surfaces thereof, pressing means operative to press together the branches of each length folded in said pocket for 'causing adherence therebetween and there by forming a loop, and means operative to eject each formed loop from said pocket.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1:

wherein said feeding means includes a device operative to move the tape intermittently past said cutting means so that the extent of each length cut from the tape is determined by the distance through which the tape is moved during each operation of said device, means sensing tension in the tape in advance of said device upon operation of the latter, and means propelling the tape to said device in response to tension acting on said sensing means thereby to avoid stretching of the elastic tape and variation of the lengths out therefrom.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2:

wherein said feeding means further includes rotating feed rollers for withdrawing the tape from said supply, said location of the nozzle for applying adhesive to the tape being intermediate said feed rollers and said means propelling the tape to said device, the rate at which said feed rollers withdraw tape from the supply being as great as the rate at which the tape is moved intermittently by said device so that stretching of the tape is avoided during application of the adhesive thereto.

4. Apparatus as in claim 2:

wherein said device operative to move the tape intermittently includes a pusher reciprocated in the longitudinal direction of the tape and having raked teeth to grip the tape and move the latter only during the stroke of said pusher toward the cutting means, clamping means engageable with the tape during the stroke of said pusher away from said cutting means to avoid pulling back of the tape, and means for varying the length of said stroke of the pusher.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1:

wherein said feeding means includes a pusher reciprocated in the longitudinal direction of the tape and operative to advance the latter only during movement of the pusher toward said cutting means, a tension sensing roller engaged by the tape in advance of said pusher, means mounting said tension sensing roller for movement in response to pulling of the tape upon advancement of the latter by said pusher, a rotated feeding roller engaging the tape advance of said tension sensing roller, a pressure roller movable toward said feeding roller to press the tape against the latter and thereby cause m'ovement of the tape by said feeding roller, and actuating means controlled by said tension sensing roller to move said pressure roller toward the feeding roller when said tension sensing roller is moved in response to pulling of the tape, thereby to'avoid stretching of the tape moved past the cutting means and variations in the lengths cut from the tape. 6. Apparatus as in claim 1: wherein said pocket defining means includes a turret rotatable in a vertical plane and having a pair of diametrically extending slots opening at the periphery of the turret and intersecting at right angles; and

further comprising indexing means operative to turn said turret step-by-step through degrees so that one of said slots is positioned vertically to receive said folding blade and the folded length of tape in its upper portion during each downward movement of said blade. 7. Apparatus as in claim 6: wherein said turret further has windows opening into the opposite end portions of each of said slots; and

said pressing means includes a rockable pressing arm mounted adjacent said turret and having an end adapted to enter a window of said turret associated with an end portion of the slot which extends horizontally thereby to press together the branches of the folded length 'of tape in the latter.

8. Apparatus as in claim 6:

wherein said means operative to eject each formed loop includes sliders movable along said slots in the turret so that, when said folding blade enters the upper portion of the vertically disposed slot, the slider in the latter is propelled downwardly,'thereby to eject the formed loop from the lower portion of said vertical slot.

9. In apparatus for forming loops from elastic tape having adhesive applied to one surface thereof, the combination of guide means defining a horizontal path of movement for the tape, cutting means at the end of said guide means operative to sever a length of the tape at the leading end of the latter which has been advanced beyond said cutting means, feeding means operative to intermittently advance the tape along said guide means, a turret rotatable in a vertical plane extending transversely with respect to said guide means and being spaced from said cutting means so that the top of said turret is adapted to underlie the leading end of the tape advanced beyond the cutting means, said turret having four elongated pockets extending radially therein and being equally angularly spaced apart, said pockets opening at the periphery of the turret, indexing means operative intermittently to turn said turret through 90 degrees so that each of said pockets is moved cyclically from a folding position at the top of the turret through a pressing position at one side of the turret to an ejecting position at the bottom of the turret, a folding blade movable vertically from above said turret to enter the pocket of the latter at said folding position and thereby fold the severed length of tape into such pocket, pressing means operative on the folded length of tape in the pocket at said pressing position to press together, and cause adherence of the branches of the folded tape, and ejecting means operative on the folded length of tape having its branches adhered together in the pocket at said ejecting position to cause downward discharge thereof from the turret.

10. In apparatus for forming loops from elastic tape having adhesive applied to one surface thereof, the combination as in claim 9; wherein said turret has two diametrically extending slots therein which intersect at right angles, and the end portions of said slots define said four pockets.

11. In apparatus for forming loops from elastic tape having adhesive applied to one surface thereof, the combination as in claim 10; wherein said ejecting means includes a slider in each of said slots which is reciprocable in the latter so that, when said folding blade moves into the upper portion of a slot defining said pocket at the folding position, the slider in said slot is propelled downwardly into the lower portion of the slot defining the pocket at said ejecting position, thereby to cause said downward discharge.

12. In an apparatus for forming loops from elastic tape having adhesive applied to one surface thereof, the combination as in claim 11; wherein said sliders in the intersecting slots extend across each other and have oppositely directed flanges at their end edges so that engagement of said flanges of one slider with the side edges of the other slider limit the movements of said sliders in said slots.

13. In an apparatus for forming loops from elastic tape having adhesive applied to one surface thereof, the combination as in claim 11; wherein said turret further has a cavity opening laterally at one side into each end portion of each of said slots, and an aligning member in each cavity spring urged into the related slot so that a length of tape folded in the latter is urged against the opposed side of the slot for accurate alignment of the branches of the folded tape, said slider in each slot being operative, during ejecting of a folded length of tape from an end portion of the related slot, to also cause retracting movement of the aligning member into its cavity.

14. In an apparatus for forming loops from elastic tape having adhesive applied to one surface thereof, the combination as in claim 10; wherein said turret further has a window opening into each of said pockets, and said pressing means includes an arm rockahly mounted adjacent said turret and having an end adapted to enter the window associated with the pocket at said pressing position for exerting pressure against the branches of the folded length of tape in such pocket.

15. In an apparatus for forming loops from elastic tape having adhesive applied to one surface thereof, the combination as in claim 9; further comprising means for adjusting the distance through which the tape is advanced during each operation of said feeding means, thereby to vary the length of tape severed by said cutting means, and means for adjusting the position of said cutting means relative to said turret thereby to vary the location of the plane of rotation of the turret in relation to said leading end of the tape advanced "beyond the cutting means, so that the combined and relative lengths of the branches of each folded length of tape can be changed.

16. In apparatus for forming loops from elastic tape having adhesive applied to one surface thereof, the combination as in claim 9; further comprising a rotated cam shaft for synchronously controlling the operation of said folding blade, pressing means and indexing means, and means driven from said cam shaft for operating said feeding means and said cutting means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,199,033 4/1940 Strauss l56517 XR 2,286,817 6/1942. Knight l56227 XR 2,740,457 4/1956 Wood et al. l56459 XR 3,033,728 5/1962 Block et al. 156-204 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 536,858 2/1957 Canada.

EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner.

PHILIP DIER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR FORMING LOOPS OF ELASTIC TAPE COMPRISING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A SUPPLY FO ELASTIC TAPE, FEEDING MEANS FOR WITHDRAWING TAPE FROM SAID SUPPLY AND FOR MOVING THE TAPE INTERMITTENTLY IN A PATH, CUTTING MEANS LOCATED ADJACENT A TERMINAL PORTION OF SAID PATH AND OPERATIVE TO CUT THE TAPE MOVED THEREPAST INTO LENGTHS, ADHESIVE APPLYING MEANS INCLUDING A NOZZLE LOCATED ADJACENT SAID PATH FOR EMITTING A SPRAY OF ADHESIVE AGAINST THE TAPE, THE LOCATION OF SAID NOZZLE BEING IN ADVANCE OF SAID CUTTING MEANS BY A DISTANCE ALONG SAID PATH WHICH IS A WHOLE MULTIPLE OF SAID LENGTHS INTO WHICH THE TAPE IS CUT SO THAT THE AREA OF THE TAPE RECEIVING ADHESIVE FROM SAID NOZZLE DURING EACH PERIOD WHEN THE TAPE IS AT REST INTERMEDIATE ITS INTERMITTENT MOVEMENTS CORRESPONDS TO END PORTIONS OF LENGTHS INTO WHICH THE TAPE IS THEREAFTER CUT, POCKET DEFINING MEANS POSITIONED TO OPEN UPWARDLY UNDER EACH LENGTH CUT FROM THE TAPE, A FOLDING BLADE MOVED DOWNWARDLY INTO SAID POCKET FROM ABOVE THE CUT LENGTH SO AS TO FOLD THE LATTER SUBSTANTIALLY ABOUT ITS MIDDLE AND THEREBY FORM TWO BRANCHES HAVING THE APPLIED ADHESIVE AT THE CONFRONTING SURFACES THEREOF, PRESSING MEANS OPERATIVE TO PRESS TOGETHER THE BRANCHES OF EACH LENGTH FOLDED IN SAID POCKET FOR CAUSING ADHERENCE THEREBETWEEN AND THEREBY FORMING A LOOP, AND MEANS OPERATIVE TO EJECT EACH FORMED LOOP FROM SAID POCKET.
 2. APPARATUS AS IN CLAIM 1: WHEREIN SAID FEEDING MEANS INCLUDES A DEVICE OPERATIVE TO MOVE THE TAPE INTERMITTENTLY PAST SAID CUTTING MEANS SO THAT THE EXTENT OF EACH LENGTH CUT FROM THE TAPE IS DETERMINED BY THE DISTANCE THROUGH WHICH THE TAPE IS MOVED DURING EACH OPERATION OF SAID DEVICE, MEANS SENSING TENSION IN THE TAPE IN ADVANCE OF SAID DEVICE UPON OPERATION OF THE LATTER, AND MEANS PROPELLING THE TAPE TO SAID DEVICE IN RESPONSE TO TENSION ACTING ON SAID SENSING MEANS THEREBY TO AVOID STRETCHING OF THE ELASTIC TAPE AND VARIATION OF THE LENGTHS CUT THEREFROM. 